P.E.I.'s Liberal MPs promise to tackle key issues facing the Island

P.E.I. is once again painted red on the political map as all four of the province's federal ridings were won by Liberal candidates in Monday's federal election.

Three incumbents and one rookie will represent the Island in Ottawa, and all four say they're ready to get to work and address key challenges facing Islanders — from the cost of living to concerns in the fisheries and agriculture sectors.

Liberal incumbent Bobby Morrissey retained his seat in the Egmont riding after what looked like a tight race with Conservative candidate Logan McLellan after polls closed.

Heading into his fourth term, Morrissey said one of his top priorities is addressing growing concerns among his constituents on the future of P.E.I.'s wild oyster fishery.

Concerns about high oyster mortalities caused by the MSX parasite have fishers worried as the season is set to begin May 1. Industry members have been calling for urgent government action and support.

"Fishers are going to have to be looked after, and I'm going to go to bat for them," Morrissey told CBC's Island Morning.

While the Conservatives did not win any seats on P.E.I., they made significant gains in voter support, particularly in Egmont, where the race was tight at several points.

"That shows that people are paying attention here, and sometimes some people felt that the government that I was part of was not listening to them closely enough on some issues," he said, citing the oyster industry concerns.

"When certain segments of the population feel isolated from the government in power, then the government has to do a better job at listening."

Rookie candidate Kent MacDonald will be the next MP in the eastern P.E.I. riding of Cardigan, the only district without an incumbent running after longtime MP Lawrence MacAulay retired.

MacDonald won more than 56 per cent of the vote.

He said he feels ready to represent the people of Cardigan and the concerns he heard while campaigning.

"We have to keep working on affordability. There's certainly concerns in the fishing industry, around DFO and the regulations. Pricing is not great in the lobster industry. So all those things add up to frustration with the voters. I'll address them when I go to Ottawa," he said.

MacDonald, a dairy farmer from the Souris area, said he feels well positioned to stand up for Canada as the issue of supply management — which relies on the control of imports and enables the dairy, poultry and egg sectors to limit the supply of their products to what Canadians are expected to consume — once again comes under fire by U.S. President Donald Trump.